‘Good Morning Britain’ hosts Kate Garraway, Susanna Reid and Ed Balls were joined by former ‘GMB’ presenter Piers Morgan as the stars were out in force for ITV’s weathergirl Laura Tobin’s glittering book launch last month.
Laura chats exclusively with Events & Entertainment magazine about her love of everything weather and her inspiring new book, 'Come Rain or Shine'.
We Brits love nothing more than talking about the weather, but none more so than ‘GMB’ presenter and award-winning British meteorologist Laura Tobin.
Bringing the sunshine to our screens every weekday morning, her infectious enthusiasm and passion for everything weather and climate change make science easy to understand and, above all, fun.
"I fell in love with weather at the age of 14,” Laura tells me. “And my fascination has grown ever since!”
With decades of weather forecasting under her sustainable belt, Laura’s career has taken her from forecasting for pilots at RAF Brize Norton to presenting the weather on the BBC and ITV.
She has reported on climate change from Svalbard, broadcast from the summit of Ben Nevis and covered the launch of a Jupiter mission from the European Spaceport in French Guiana, while abseiling on the Blackpool Tower saw her swear live on TV when she wasn’t quite ready to rock!
A stylish & sustainable launch event
Recently turning up the heat, the party-loving TV presenter was surrounded by stars as she dazzled in a stylish ‘sunshine’ dress from ASOS ARRANGE, rented from fashion rental platform By Rotation, with her famous friends out in force to watch the ITV weather favourite’s latest book launch unfold.
Laura’s stylish showbiz event took place at London’s Arboretum - an independent Members’ Club and Events Space in Leicester Square, offering event spaces blending sustainability and community with elegant lounges and natural light.
Event planners 38 London perfectly delivered Laura’s 'vision' for her eco event. “The venue was central, cool and quirky, with trees and a living wall.”
Sponsored by Flood Re – a joint initiative between the UK Government and the insurance industry that helps households at high risk of flooding get affordable home insurance – the evening was also sponsored by Hidden Sea Wine, which flowed freely throughout the evening.
The Australian wine brand from South Australia's Limestone Coast, where the vines grow on the bed of an ancient ocean, is on a mission to clean up our oceans. For every bottle sold, it commits to removing plastic bottles from the world's oceans and waterways.
With eco enthusiast Laura's work spanning the weather, climate and the natural world, Hidden Sea's commitment to protecting our oceans reflects the book's message that understanding our changing environment has never been more important.
Photo credit: Nikhil Jeshani
A GMB reunion with Piers Morgan
In a 'Good Morning Britain' reunion, Piers Morgan was back alongside his former breakfast TV co-stars Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway, along with a host of famous faces from the worlds of TV and showbiz.
Fellow ‘GMB’ presenters Ed Balls, Charlotte Hawkins, Sean Fletcher and Tom Swarbrick also attended the London launch, along with the show’s entertainment presenter Richard Arnold, broadcaster Matt Johnson, ex-‘Strictly’ star Brendan Cole and actresses Michelle Gayle and Judi Shekoni.
Journalist Celia Walden, TV personality Lizzie Cundy, culture expert Nick Ede and gardener/broadcaster Leigh Johnstone also showed their support, alongside other ‘GMB’ work colleagues, pilots, Met Office professionals and university professors.
Not your average book launch
No ordinary book launch, attendees were blown away as artist Charlotte Posner brought Laura’s book to life in front of the glitzy guests at the atmospheric event, drawing playful weather-inspired illustrations throughout the evening, from sketches of blazing sunshine to brooding storms.
“Everyone got to take home a personalised piece of artwork by the very talented Charlotte,” Laura reveals. “She incorporated all the weather elements. Mine is now framed and I love it!”
Guests also got creative at a weather-inspired scent bar, mixing up a sensory storm of their own bespoke fragrances inspired by their favourite season.
Summer sunshine? Fresh rain? A crisp winter morning? It turns out you really can bottle the weather!
“We also had a weather map by Bexley Confetti Balloons, so people could have a go at being a weather presenter.”
Come Rain or Shine
With a passion for weather, Laura loves EVERYTHING about it.
And in ‘Come Rain or Shine’, Laura lifts the lid on the fascinating science behind the forecast.
“It's so amazing that my book’s here! It has lots of fun facts with simplified science stories along the way to make it relatable,” she reveals.
As extreme weather events increasingly make the headlines, the sustainable star explores our changing climate, covering everything from forgotten weather history and myths to surprising ways the atmosphere shapes our everyday lives, lifting the fog on our weather knowledge.
Why does a red sky really mean good weather?
Can you spot the signs of an approaching storm?
Why can changes in air pressure affect your morning cup of tea?
And can you really predict whether it will rain on your big day?
“People are always stopping me in the street asking what the weather is doing and, more importantly, why,” Laura explains. “That’s what I wanted to include in this book - not just telling you what’s happening with the weather but why.”
Packed with extraordinary weather stories, practical tips and easy-to-understand science, this brilliant new book shows why understanding the science behind our changing weather has never mattered more.
The final chapter
With a whole chapter dedicated to wind, the book’s last chapter charts how you can become your own weather radar.
“The all-important final chapter shows you how you can forecast the weather yourself just by standing in the wind, looking at the clouds and finally understanding pressure charts,” she reveals.
Following her book launch, Laura’s on cloud nine.
“It was an incredible night surrounded by family and friends and everyone left with a smile on their face.”
Come rain or shine, Laura just LOVES weather!
“I have the best job in the world, and I hope the book makes people love the weather (our most popular pastime) and talk about it a little bit more, but probably still not quite as much as me!!"
‘Come Rain Or Shine’ is available on Amazon:
amazon.co.uk/dp/1915780942
Watch Laura’s weather broadcasts every weekday morning on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’.